Page 18 - Bhakthinivedana 2011 September English Magazine.pmd

the Divine. When we take shelter at the feet of such is with a bird! More interestingly, Va:lmi:ki: Maharshi
a:charya:s, we obtain relevant knowledge to perceive is compared to a bird with a sweet voice!

the Ultimate Reality. Thus, we can do justice to the
attainment of our human birth. Our great a:cha:rya, “ku:jantham ra:ma ra:me:thi madhuram
madhura:ksharam, a:ru:hya kavitha:sa:kha:m
Sri: Manava:la maha:muni explains the same idea in
vande: Va:lmi:ki: ko:kilam||”
his work Upade:sarathnama:la.

“I bow to Maharshi Va:lmi:ki:, who, like a cuckoo,
“jna:nam anushttha:nam ivai, nanra:gave: yudaiya
na:na, guruvai yadai ndakka:l, ma:nilaththi:r! sits on the branches of poetry of the tree of Ve:dic
the:na:r kamalath thiruma:magal kolunan tha:ne: literature and who sings to our delight that it is Lord
vaigundam tharum||” Ra:ma who is the Supreme eternal being showering
immortality on us.”
adaindakka:l = If taken refuge (of the),
guruvai = teacher (who), Va:lmi:ki: presented Sri: Ra:ma:yana in such a lucid

udaiyana:na = possessing manner that even, children could sing it with joy.
ivai = both of these He made it so pleasant to hear that he is admired
jna:namanushttha:nam = the knowledge of Sa:sthra:s by all as a cuckoo. Just as the cuckoo’s sweet calls
and its right practice, mark the beginning of spring season, so too does

nanra:kave = in abundance; the chanting of Ra:ma’s name in Sri: Ra:ma:yana
ma:nilaththi:r = O people of this world! begin the transformation of ordinary lives into those
the:na:r kamala thiruma:magal = The Lord of Lakshmi rich with human values. We have not yet begun
De:vi, she who resides in a honeyed lotus, studying Sri: Ra:ma:yana; yet we have already

ko:lunan = such Na:ra:yana, encountered a wonderful bird in Va:lmi:ki: maharshi!
tha:ne: vaigundam tharum = Himself will bestow He is the cuckoo inviting us to hear the enchanting
Vaikunttham on us. Ra:ma:yana!

The translation of this verse goes as - The birds in Ba:laka:nda
“O people of this world! If you take refuge in a guru Ba:laka:nda begins with a depiction of a pair of
who has, in great abundance, both the knowledge Krauncha birds. Va:lmi:ki: Bhagavan received the
of scriptures and its right practice, then, the Lord of essence of Sri: Ra:ma:yana from sage Na:rada.

Lakshmi De:vi, who lives in a honeyed lotus, will He was enlightened to hear that Sri: Ra:ma was an
Himself grant you Vaikunttham!” embodiment of humanity and was ruling the kingdom

virtuously. Once, while constantly enjoying the
According to Sri: Manava:la maha:muni, we need glorious qualities of Sri: Ra:ma in his heart, he went

to have the grace of a teacher before we obtain the to the nearby Thamasa river for ablutions, along with
grace of God. Sri: Va:lmi:ki: Maharshi too repeatedly his disciple Bharadva:ja.
reminds us of this fact in the various ka:ndas of Sri: Continued on Page 31...
Ra:ma:yana. The very beginning of Sri: Ra:ma:yana ...Continued From Page 18

18 Bhakthinivedana • Sep, Oct 2011